Search Results (58)

Between 2018 and 2025, alternative finance expanded while micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises in emerging economies continued to face a substantial funding gap. This study examines how entrepreneurial frugality articulates frugal ecosystems, access to alternative finance, resilience and SME performance within a single explanatory framework. Following PRISMA 2020 and PRISMA-S, we conduct a systematic review of Scopus, Web of Science and Cairn; out of 1483 records, 106 peer-reviewed studies are retained and assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool and a narrative synthesis approach. The findings show that frugal ecosystems characterized by pooled assets, norms of repair and modularity, and lightweight digital tools reduce experimentation costs and develop frugal innovation as an organizational capability. This capability enhances access to alternative finance by generating readable quality signals, while non-bank channels provide a financial buffer that aligns liquidity with operating cycles and strengthens entrepreneurial resilience. The article proposes an operationalized conceptual model, measurement guidelines for future quantitative surveys, and public policy and managerial implications to support frugal and inclusive innovation trajectories in emerging contexts. Full article

Amid growing sustainability and ethical concerns, digital innovation increasingly requires integrating social, environmental, and governance responsibility into technological development. However, little is known about how organizations in emerging economies—particularly in North Africa—operationalize these principles in practice. This study addresses this gap by exploring how institutional and economic actors in Morocco incorporate responsibility principles into their digital innovation strategies. Adopting an exploratory qualitative design, we conducted 27 semi-structured interviews with digital managers from public organizations (ministries, institutions, and local authorities) and private firms (technology companies, start-ups, and large corporations). The central research question guiding this study is: How do Moroccan organizations perceive and implement the principles of responsible digital innovation (RDI)? Data were analyzed using NVivo 14 software through thematic coding and triangulated with policy documents to enhance validity. The results reveal growing awareness of digital sustainability issues—particularly energy efficiency, accessibility, and data protection—yet the degree of responsible practice varies by sector, firm size, and regulatory environment. Key obstacles include limited expertise, absence of ethical performance metrics, and competitive pressures constraining investment in RDI. Conversely, ethical charters, frugal design, and stakeholder engagement emerge as key drivers. The study concludes that embedding responsibility in digital innovation requires shared governance frameworks, supportive public policies, and cross-sector collaboration to promote inclusive and sustainable technological progress. While context-specific, this research opens avenues for comparative and quantitative studies on RDI across emerging economies. Full article

This integrative systematic review addresses the existing gap in understanding how frugal innovation can scale sustainably in emerging economies. Through a mixed-methods analysis based on the PRISMA 2020 protocol, 142 documents published between 2019 and 2025 in Scopus and Web of Science were examined. Scientific and grey literature. The methodology combined bibliometric mapping using VOSviewer, qualitative analysis with NVivo, and a Delphi panel of 15 experts, allowing for the triangulation of theoretical, empirical, and prospective evidence. The findings reveal a transition from a phase of contextual adaptation (2019–2021) to one of systematization and governance (2022–2025), highlighting that the so-called «Frugal Scalability Paradox»—the tension between hyper-contextualization and standardization—constitutes the main obstacle to the sustainability and expansion of frugal models. This study contributes both theoretically and practically by offering a taxonomy of value mechanisms, proposing a hybrid governance framework, and outlining a research agenda focused on inclusion, technological modularity, and impact funding. Frugal innovation is redefined here as a paradigm of intelligent tension management, capable of balancing local relevance and global replicability. Full article

Sericulture sustains rural livelihoods in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, where it provides income for women, elderly workers, and smallholder households. Yet this sector faces a critical technological divide: traditional reeling methods remain labor-intensive and uncompetitive, while industrial innovations advance along trajectories that are poorly suited to low-resource contexts. This article presents a patent landscape of silk-reeling technologies retrieved from Espacenet and PATENTSCOPE (2000–2024), comprising 212 unique records. Patents were evaluated against six criteria: resource efficiency, knowledge accessibility, durability and reparability, context adaptability, equity and inclusion, and by-product valorization. This review reveals a strong industrial bias, with most patents emphasizing energy-intensive steaming, mechanized feeding, and digital control, while only a small fraction addresses rural conditions or social inclusion. Current innovations therefore tend to marginalize traditional producers from emerging bio-based value chains. This study contributes to discussions on how technological design can support rural sericulture, highlighting the need for resource-efficient, modular, and socially inclusive solutions. Future research should extend patent analysis to mulberry cultivation, silkworm breeding, and by-product recovery to fully integrate sericulture into the circular bioeconomy. Full article

The increasing complexity of the Edge–Cloud Continuum (ECC), driven by the rapid expansion of the Internet of Things (IoT) and data-intensive applications, necessitates implementing innovative methods for automated and efficient system management. In this context, recent studies focused on the utilization of self-* capabilities that can be used to enhance system autonomy and increase operational proactiveness. Separately, anomaly detection and adaptive sampling techniques have been explored to optimize data transmission and improve systems’ reliability. The integration of those techniques within a single, lightweight, and extendable self-optimization module is the main subject of this contribution. The module was designed to be well suited for distributed systems, composed of highly resource-constrained operational devices (e.g., wearable health monitors, IoT sensors in vehicles, etc.), where it can be utilized to self-adjust data monitoring and enhance the resilience of critical processes. The focus is put on the implementation of two core mechanisms, derived from the current state-of-the-art: (1) density-based anomaly detection in real-time resource utilization data streams, and (2) a dynamic adaptive sampling technique, which employs Probabilistic Exponential Weighted Moving Average. The performance of the proposed module was validated using both synthetic and real-world datasets, which included a sample collected from the target infrastructure. The main goal of the experiments was to showcase the effectiveness of the implemented techniques in different, close to real-life scenarios. Moreover, the results of the performed experiments were compared with other state-of-the-art algorithms in order to examine their advantages and inherent limitations. With the emphasis put on frugality and real-time operation, this contribution offers a novel perspective on resource-aware autonomic optimization for next-generation ECC. Full article

Throughout history, cultural heritage has accumulated, and is often embodied in monuments, structures, and notable figures. Cultural heritage preservation and management also include digitalization, allowing tangible monuments to be managed as digital inventory with “digital twins”. This provides innovative ways to experience and interact with the real world, in particular by using modern mobile devices. The digitalization of monuments opens new ways to produce decorative items based on the shape of the monuments. Usually, decorative items are produced by craft businesses, family-run for generations, with specialized skills in metal and stone processing. We developed and tested a methodological proposal for frugal innovation: how to produce decorative items with minimal costs based on digital twins, which are particularly in demand in tourism-driven countries like Croatia. A micro-business with three employees, specializing in “metal art,” aims to innovate and expand by producing small-scale replicas of cultural heritage objects, such as busts, statues, monuments, or profiles. A method has been developed to create replicas in the desired material and at a desired scale, faithfully reproducing the original—whether based on a physical object, 3D model, or photograph. The results demonstrate that this sustainable frugal innovation can be successfully implemented using affordable tools and licenses. Full article

Accurately detecting rice panicles in complex field environments remains challenging due to their small size, dense distribution, diverse growth directions, and easy confusion with the background. To accurately detect rice panicles, this study proposes OE-YOLO, an enhanced framework derived from YOLOv11, incorporating three synergistic innovations. First, oriented bounding boxes (OBB) replace horizontal bounding boxes (HBB) to precisely capture features of rice panicles across different heights and growth stages. Second, the backbone network is redesigned with EfficientNetV2, leveraging its compound scaling strategy to balance multi-scale feature extraction and computational efficiency. Third, a C3k2_DConv module improved by dynamic convolution is introduced, enabling input-adaptive kernel fusion to amplify discriminative features while suppressing background interference. Extensive experiments on rice Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) imagery demonstrate OE-YOLO’s superiority, achieving 86.9% mAP50 and surpassing YOLOv8-obb and YOLOv11 by 2.8% and 8.3%, respectively, with only 2.45 M parameters and 4.8 GFLOPs. The model has also been validated at flight heights of 3 m and 10 m and during the heading and filling stages, achieving mAP50 improvements of 8.3%, 6.9%, 6.7%, and 16.6% compared to YOLOv11, respectively, demonstrating the generalization capability of the model. These advancements demonstrated OE-YOLO as a computationally frugal yet highly accurate solution for real-time crop monitoring, addressing critical needs in precision agriculture for robust, oriented detection under resource constraints. Full article

Thalassemia and sickle cell disease remain the most common life-threatening non-communicable diseases in children worldwide and an increasing burden on affected families and health services. Significant progress has been made in terms of technologies to improve access to a cure by both allogeneic and autologous gene-modified hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). However, the high cost of cutting-edge treatments often places them beyond the reach of individual families or even national healthcare systems. Advances in frugal innovation and simplified HSCT procedures for low-risk transplants have significantly reduced the costs and complexities associated with HSCT without compromising on quality and outcomes. Because of the geographical distribution of hemoglobinopathies, i.e., largely in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), HSCT cost optimization has the potential to impact a huge number of patients, increasing hope for a cure and health-related quality of life normalization, which in turn may affect supportive care compliance. Furthermore, because of the high burden of disease, LMIC transplant centers are rapidly increasing in number and developing unique expertise for the cure of thalassemia and sickle cell disease, particularly in India, where the Sankalp India Foundation with the support of DKMS and Cure2Children has implemented several cost-conscious transplant services. In fact, the very high success rate, increasing cost-effectiveness of transplantation, as well as the chronic nature of these conditions make them ideal initial candidates for start-up transplant centers, so it is likely that the global capacity for a cure for severe hemoglobinopathies will substantially increase in the years to come. Full article

Innovative entrepreneurship has increasingly been acknowledged as one of the most vital drivers of economic development, job creation at high value, wealth creation, and business growth. This study analyzes the current status and evolution of research on innovative entrepreneurship and sustainability in the context of emerging economies, based on a bibliometric analysis of 132 articles indexed in the Web of Science database. The search was guided by relevant keywords, such as “innovative entrepreneurship*” and “sustainab*”. Systemic barriers limit the scalability of innovative ventures, especially in developing countries. Frugal and green innovations, digital technologies, and rural enterprises show promise but face challenges like resource constraints, ethical concerns, and policy gaps. Collaborative, equity-focused approaches are essential to ensure entrepreneurship drives sustainable and inclusive development. Further studies should expand the data source, increase the pool of articles, and develop cross-country comparisons to enhance global understanding. This may lead to a better understanding of innovative entrepreneurship and sustainability that can be used to create actionable strategies for development in various economic contexts. Full article

Digitalization has forced emerging market (EM) firms operating in resource-constrained environments to adopt market-driven strategies, particularly frugal innovation, to provide affordable, optimized processes and high-value solutions. However, understanding the mechanisms behind developing frugal innovation capability (FIC) at the firm level in diverse EMs remains limited. From the perspective of the resource-based view, this study added to the existing body of knowledge by exploring how strategic orientation (entrepreneurial orientation (EO) and market orientation (MO)) and organizational ambidexterity (OA) impact the development of FIC in EMs. To empirically validate our theoretical predictions, this study used a cross-sectional survey to collect data from 386 valid respondents from Tanzanian manufacturing firms. The results demonstrate that both EO and MO have a strong and positive relationship with OA and the development of FIC in EMs. In addition, OA partially mediates the relationship of both EO and MO with the development of FIC. Furthermore, our results indicate that MO exerts a more significant impact on the development of FIC than EO in EMs. Managers of manufacturing firms in EMs can use these findings to review their strategic decisions and their exploitative and exploratory approaches to enhance supply chains, develop cost-effective technologies, and produce affordable offerings that cater to the preferences of price-conscious consumers in the digital age. Full article

Regional innovation systems (RISs) can stimulate knowledge sharing and collaboration, attracting investments and promoting economic and social progress. This is often linked to what is known as frugal innovation, involving small businesses developing and selling sustainable, low-cost products that meet local needs. This study aims to present and apply a model to measure regional innovation potential, using a multicriteria approach based on the principles of frugal innovation (FI). The analytical hierarchical process (AHP) was used to generate factor weights, enabling score calculation to provide insights into FI potential on a literature-based five-point scale. Data were collected in two stages: (i) from twelve main participants—working in a rural RIS—who responded to a questionnaire, and (ii) from cities through official government channels to collect information about their innovation development initiatives. The results reveal that the RIS analyzed still lacks assistance in the development of public policies to support the development of an innovative culture, indicating the need for appropriate mechanisms to boost innovation actions. The outputs of this study can help cities and regions to analyze their innovation potential, assist public managers in decision-making, support the creation of innovation-stimulating mechanisms, help RISs to address deficiencies, and promote local development. Full article

Frugal innovation offers cost-effective, demand-driven products for consumers in emerging markets. By leveraging this approach, enterprises can capitalize on opportunities, boost profits, and nurture beneficial consumer relationships. This study uses the transaction cost theory to explore how symbiotic relationships within environmental turbulence influence frugal innovation. The goal is to unravel the interconnected factors that drive high-performance frugal innovation, providing enterprises with a roadmap for seizing opportunities, enhancing profitability, and cultivating enduring consumer relationships. Data from 218 Chinese enterprises were collected through a survey and analyzed using fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) and Necessary Condition Analysis (NCA) methods. The research findings indicate that factors such as market dynamics, technological dynamics, collaboration with suppliers and customers, relationship governance, contract governance, and inter-organizational trust are not necessary prerequisites for high frugal innovation performance. Instead, the synergy among these factors is imperative for reaching elevated levels of frugal innovation performance. Furthermore, three distinct pathways to heightened frugal innovation performance were identified: a dual-drive mechanism involving membership relationships and governance mechanisms, a membership-driven approach in dynamic technological conditions, and a governance mechanism-driven approach in dynamic market conditions. This study offers valuable theoretical and practical insights for enterprises pursuing frugal innovation in turbulent environments, guiding them towards sustained growth and competitive advantages in new markets. Full article

This article deals with the under-researched phenomenon of rural health entrepreneurship and its major characteristics. The purpose of this study is to explicate the process of providing health services in rural areas of a developing country and their relation to SDGs. The paper is based on six semi-structured interviews conducted with Serbian health entrepreneurs in rural areas (two private practices, two policlinics, and two dental practices), a review of laws and strategies relevant to the field, and three sessions of discussions with eight experts (four authors and four additional experts). The research methodology follows an empirical, mixed-method case study research procedure. The results are presented in relation to the aspects of frugality, family orientation, and sustainability-oriented innovation. The timeline of the six case studies demonstrates the increasing importance of health entrepreneurs in rural areas due to the aging population and, therefore, increased needs for quality healthcare in these areas. The financing instruments have also become more formal and substantial in recent years, enabling the growth of healthcare businesses in rural areas. However, a major obstacle to further sustainable development remains the non-refundability of services before the state-owned, obligatory health fund, creating major social inequalities, especially in rural areas. Full article

Background: In the current global market, innovations are one of the tools of sustainable development. Therefore, companies must change their attitudes toward innovation strategies in accordance with international and national environmental standards, laws, and market requirements. We often come across, in particular, the evaluation of economic factors of sustainability, which cannot capture the attitudes of companies to the solved issue of the perception of innovation as a tool of sustainable development. Therefore, the Kano model and cluster analysis are used to evaluate the attitudes of Slovak small and medium-sized enterprises towards innovation, and the aim of this paper is to evaluate innovation as a tool of sustainability in enterprises in Slovakia. Methods: This article’s main research method is the Kano model and cluster analysis. Conclusions: The findings of this paper reveal how small and medium-sized enterprises in Slovakia perceive innovation as a tool for sustainable development. Based on the results, we can state the positive attitude of small and medium-sized enterprises towards innovations supporting sustainable development, focusing on frugal innovations characterized by cost reduction, as well as innovation targeting functions, standards, laws, and performance optimization. They perceive these innovations as attractive and their implementation in corporate structures as a basic function for sustainable development through innovation. Full article